The Viscosity Effect of Masticated Natural vs. Synthetic Isoprene Rubber on Toughening of Polylactic Acid

Figure 14

SEM micrographs of the freeze-fractured and impact-fractured surfaces of PLA and the blends of PLA/rubber at 3000x.

(a) Freeze-fractured surface of PLA

(b) PLA after impact test

(c) Freeze-fractured surface of PLA/IR6

(d) PLA/IR6 after impact test

(e) Freeze-fractured surface of PLA/NR12

(f) PLA/NR12 after impact test